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Omega Boost

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Omega Boost
Developer(s)Polyphony Digital
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s)Yasushi Taki
Zaika Tei
Producer(s)Kazunori Yamauchi
Designer(s)Yuji Yasuhara
EngineGran Turismo
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • JP: April 22, 1999
  • NA: August 31, 1999
  • PAL: September 14, 1999
Genre(s)Rail shooter
Mode(s)Single player

Omega Boost is a three dimensional shoot 'em up developed by Polyphony Digital for the Sony PlayStation. It was released in 1999 throughout Japan, North America, and Europe by Sony Computer Entertainment.

The game features mecha designs by Shoji Kawamori of Macross fame.

Being released late in the PlayStation's life, Omega Boost is said to have some of the best graphics on the console with parts of the game running at 60 frame/s. The game was criticized by some reviewers for being too short (Nine levels with nine unlockable special missions) and simplistic. However, it is still considered one of the best Macross-style mecha simulation games produced and is thought of by many as a sleeper hit due to its poor marketing.

Story

In the past, an artificial intelligence named AlphaCore peacefully and silently co-existed with the human race, though its origins remain unknown. Eventually, the human race advanced to the point where they became aware of AlphaCore and its capabilities, and were shocked by what it was capable of. Fearing its power, humanity tried to 'dump' AlphaCore- presumably an attempt to destroy or manipulate the AI- but the action failed, only provoking the AlphaCore and starting a war between humans and machines. This war goes on into the distant future, with mankind steadily being outmatched by AlphaCore, who is capable of destroying entire cities easily.

In this future, scientists devise a way to travel through time in order stop AlphaCore. However, AlphaCore discovers this plan and steals the time travel technology. It builds a giant shaft, the Timeshaft, on a desolate, mined out planet named ETA, and uses this to travel back in time and alter ENIAC, the first general-use computer created and considered by AlphaCore to be the first artificial intelligence. It plans to implant a virus into one of ENIAC's vacuum tubes, thus creating a predestination paradox and ensuring its survival in the present day.

To counter AlphaCore's scheme, human scientists create the Omega Boost, a giant robot capable of traveling through time using the Direct Drive System (DDS). Lester J. Hemming, an experienced pilot and one of very few who can pilot the Omega Boost, is charged with traveling back in time to stop AlphaCore by finding ENIAC and replacing the AlphaCore infected vacuum tube, thus stopping AlphaCore before it even has a chance to exist.

Omega Boost manages to pierce the defenses around planet ETA, encountering along the way a red 'knockoff' of Omega Boost made by AlphaCore named Beta Boost, and enters the Timeshaft encountering resistance around and inside. However, after traveling through, it finds itself not in 1946, but near planet ETA a few centuries in the future, which has been completely overrun by machinery- the home base of AlphaCore. Omega Boost proceeds to breach the planetary defenses, once again defeating Beta Boost (who has been given a version of the Viper Boost attack) and fending off the avatar of AlphaCore itself.

Afterwards, the planet is destroyed and AlphaCore attempts to escape through its Timeshaft. Omega Boost pursues it and destroys its three forms- crystal, serpent-like machine, and finally the true form, a vaguely fairylike humanoid with wings. After defeat, AlphaCore attempts to possess Omega Boost, but fails, disintegrating.

The end cutscene depicts Omega Boost arriving in 1946, crashing into a forest in North America. Lester locates ENIAC and, through a small probe, finds the vacuum tube infected by AlphaCore's virus, switching it out for the safe tube seen in the intro; thus preventing AlphaCore's rise to power and subsequent destruction of the human race.

Gameplay

The gameplay takes place in waves, meaning that enemies will appear in the same groups and formations in the same order every playthrough. The player doesn't get to choose what order to engage an entire stage's enemies, just the ones in the current wave. This rail-shooter element does not hamper the player's freedom to fly where they choose in most stages. On some stages, the player has complete control of Omega Boost, specifically areas where they are in Planet ETA's atmosphere. Other stages limit the player in terms of speed (falling through the timeshaft).

The "Boost" part of the mech's name comes from Omega Boost's booster pack, allowing the player to move in any direction and circle strafe enemies with a scanning and lock-on feature. Omega Boost also learns the Viper Boost maneuver once it is levelled up. Viper Boost, when engaged, will cause Omega Boost to glow blue as it tears through enemies on screen. Destroying enemies will cause the gauge to refill incrementally. However, the game can be completed without ever using Viper Boost. If Viper Boost is used, the final ranking will have "Pixy" added onto the title, showing the attack during play.

Development

Similarities between Omega Boost and Sega's Panzer Dragoon series led to a rumor that former members of Team Andromeda, dissolved in 1998, had joined Polyphony Digital. This rumor turned out to be true as the lead designer and programmer on Omega Boost was Yuji Yasuhara,[1] who had worked on Panzer Dragoon Zwei.

Among the games created by Polyphony Digital, Omega Boost was the only shoot 'em up, while the others are vehicle racing simulators.

Audio

Omega Boost Original Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
CMJK, Shingo Okumura, Daiki Kasho, Takafumi Fujisawa
ReleasedJune 19, 1999
GenreVideo game soundtrack
Length63:21
LabelSPE Visual Works

The Omega Boost Original Soundtrack was released on June 19, 1999.[2]

Omega Boost Original Soundtrack
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."BOOST I"Takafumi Fujisawa0:20
2."SPLIT THE NEBULA"CMJK5:18
3."RING BUFFER"CMJK3:28
4."ORBITAL FLIGHT"CMJK4:23
5."BETA BETA"CMJK3:11
6."ATTACK IN WAVES"CMJK4:49
7."GROUND AND THE SKY"CMJK3:26
8."THE ODD LIFE FORCE"CMJK4:35
9."A MEASURING WORM"CMJK3:05
10."BACK TO THE 1946"CMJK4:43
11."SPARK OF DRUM"CMJK1:31
12."TENSE UP"Singo Okumura, Daiki Kasho2:07
13."PATHAKA"CMJK1:33
14."BOOST II"Takafumi Fujisawa0:14
15."FIERCE RESISTANCE"CMJK4:44
16."ELIMINATION UP"CMJK4:51
17."LET'S TIE LIKE A LINE"CMJK4:49
18."Ismeel"Dip in the Pool6:14

The album had a limited print and is considered very rare. As such, many fans of the game have found it easier to rip the soundtrack from the game disc itself, however, this leads to confusion over the official titles of the tracks, mainly because they are labeled as "areas" in-game instead of the official names given by the creators.

The opening movie and ending credits in each version features different music. The Japanese version uses "Shade" by Feeder as its opening theme and final boss theme, and "Ismeel" by Dip in the Pool as its ending theme. The North American version licenses songs by Loudmouth, opening with "Fly" and closing with "The Road"; as well as featuring "Otsegolation" by Static-X, played during the title screen and the final boss. Finally, the European version uses "Dreamer" by Cast as the opening, final boss and ending themes.

Merchandise

A series of action figures was created by Blue Box Toys, featuring mecha from the game, including: Omega Boost[3] and Beta Boost.[4] A third figure, Herbarcher, was shown on the back of the boxes; however, it was never released.

Reception

Chris Charla reviewed the PlayStation version of the game for Next Generation, rating it two stars out of five, and stated that "The textbook definition of a two-star game: competent, but totally uninspired."[14]

Omega Boost received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.

References

  1. ^ "Yuji Yasuhara Video Game Credits and Biography". MobyGames.
  2. ^ "Omega Boost Original Soundtrack". VGMdb.
  3. ^ "Omega Boost – Omega Boost – BBI Action Figure". FigureRealm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  4. ^ "Beta Boost – Omega Boost – BBI Action Figure". FigureRealm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  5. ^ "Omega Boost for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  6. ^ The Jaded Critic. "Omega Boost – Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  7. ^ Edge staff (July 1999). "Omega Boost". Edge (73).
  8. ^ EGM staff (October 1999). "Omega Boost". Electronic Gaming Monthly.
  9. ^ McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (October 1999). "Omega Boost". Game Informer (78). Archived from the original on May 31, 2000. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  10. ^ The D-Pad Destroyer (1999). "Omega Boost Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  11. ^ Clint (September 1999). "Omega Boost Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  12. ^ Bartholow, Peter (May 10, 1999). "Omega Boost Review". GameSpot. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  13. ^ Chen, Jeff (September 23, 1999). "Omega Boost". IGN. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Charla, Chris (October 1999). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 2, no. 2. Imagine Media. p. 114.
  15. ^ "Omega Boost". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. October 1999.
  16. ^ "Omega Boost". PSM. October 1999.
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